OUTLINE & TAKE NOTES
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024
"A Missional Vision" // Pastor Daniel Mills
What if your everyday life could make a global impact? In A Missional Vision, we’ll explore what it means to live with purpose, where every action, conversation, and decision is part of a bigger story—God’s mission to reach the world. This isn’t just about far-off lands; it’s about your neighbourhood, your workplace, and the people you meet every day. We are called to be disciple-making disciples, reaching those who have never experienced the love and grace of Jesus. Imagine being part of a movement that transforms lives, both locally and globally, by sharing hope and compassion. Living missionally means seeing the world through God’s eyes, where every interaction is an opportunity to reflect His love. As we join in this mission, we find our true purpose and the joy of making an eternal difference. Whether it’s your next-door neighbour or an unreached people group across the globe, you can be part of God’s plan to touch lives with His love. Join us to discover how you can live missionally in everything you do, making an impact that echoes throughout the world.
Stats about the Alliance World Fellowship
• 60 National Church Networks
• Over 22,000 churches
• In 88 countries
• Over 6.2 million worshippers in Alliance churches
• 184 Theological schools
• Over 30,000 pastors and national workers
• Over 1000 International Workers doing cross-cultural work
Stats about the Alliance in Canada
• 426 Alliance churches and congregations
• More than 160,000 people attending
• Worship in 19 languages
• More than 3,600 baptisms last year
• Over 8,400 professions of faith last year
• 51 new expressions of church and communities through New Ventures
• 188 International Workers, ministering to 65 people groups, in 33 countries
• 16 of those countries are closed to traditional missionary work and many are on the World Watch List of most persecuted places to live
Our Vision Prayer
“O God, with all our hearts, we long for You. Come, transform us to be Christ-centred, Spirit-empowered, Mission-focused people, multiplying disciples everywhere.”
Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
1. Jesus’ missional mandate is rooted in the hope of resurrection
Matthew 28:5-6 – Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.
1 Corinthians 15:14, 17 – And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless...and if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
“After the death of Jesus the entire Christian community suddenly adopted a set of beliefs that were brand-new and until that point had been unthinkable. The first Christians had a resurrection-centered view of reality.”
--Timothy Keller, The Reason for God
2. Jesus’ missional mandate requires faith
Matthew 28:17 – When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
2 Corinthians 4:4 – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
“I have also turned to Christianity because I ultimately found life without any spiritual solace unendurable. Indeed, very nearly self-destructive. Athieism failed to answer a simple question: what is the meaning and purpose of life.” –Ayaan Hirsi Ali
3. Jesus’ missional mandate was given to young people
How are you investing into the next generation?
- York University – Markham Campus
- 12% of the people in Canada over a 7 day period went to church
- Under the age of 30, it went up to 18%
- 45% of no faith Gen-Z have no opinion of Jesus
4. Jesus’ missional mandate is cross-cultural
Matthew 28:19 – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations
What should we do?
1. Pray
Colossians 4:2-4 – Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
2. Mature in Christ
Hebrews 5:12 – You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
3. Invest & unleash the next generation
2 Timothy 2:2 – You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
4. Encourage & empower the retirees
Joshua 14:10-11 – Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.
5. Use your business, talents, and skills for gospel fulfillment
Matthew 25:21 – The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
6. Lean into the empowerment of the Spirit
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
7. Step out in faith and do hard things
Joshua 1:9 – This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Two things we can’t do in heaven:
• tell people about Jesus
• love, support, care for the poor, hungry, and hurting
“Evangelism is joining a conversation that the Holy Spirit is already having with another person.” -Darrell Johnson